Missing Titanic submersible live updates: Texts show OceanGate CEO dismissed concerns

Magellan, an international exploration company that digitally mapped the Titanic wreckage last year, said Wednesday that it is "ready to support" the search for the missing submersible and is "fully mobilized to help."

The U.K.-based company told ABC News that it was contacted by the submersible’s operator, OceanGate Expeditions, early Monday and "immediately offered our knowledge of the specific site and also our expertise operating at depth considerably in advance of what is required for this incident."

"We have been working full-time with U.K. and U.S. agencies to secure the necessary air support to move our specialist equipment and support crew," Magellan said in a statement.

When asked for comment about media reports that U.S. authorities have failed to give Magellan the necessary permits to participate in the search, the company told ABC News it "does not not wish to comment on any specific media report."

-ABC News' Emma Ogao

The U.S. Coast Guard announced via Twitter early Wednesday that a Canadian aircraft with sonar capabilities had "detected underwater noises in the search area."

Remotely operated vehicle operations (ROV) were then relocated "in an attempt to explore the origin of the noises," according to the Coast Guard.

"Those ROV searches have yielded negative results but continue," the Coast Guard tweeted.

A former employee of OceanGate alleged in a 2018 counterclaim lawsuit that he was fired for raising concerns about quality control and testing of potential flaws in the same experimental submersible that went missing this week.

David Lochridge, an engineer and submarine pilot, claimed in his counterclaim against OceanGate that he was hired in 2015 by the Everett, Washington, company to ensure the safety of all crew and clients during the submersible and surface operations of the vessel called Titan. But when he expressed concerns about the design and testing of the minisub's hull, he said he was terminated by the company.

OceanGate had initially sued Lochridge alleging, among other things, breach of contract, fraud and misappropriation of trade secrets -- all claims he denied.

In its lawsuit, OceanGate accused Lochridge of breaching his contract by discussing the company's confidential information with the Occupational Health and Safety Administration "when he filed a false report claiming that he was discharged in retaliation for being a whistleblower."

Read more here.

-ABC News' Bill Hutchinson

The U.S. Coast Guard sent out its latest release Tuesday night on the search for the missing submersible at the Titanic crash site.

According to the latest release:

Sunday, June 18, 8 a.m. ET: Submersible launches, supposed to resurface at 3 p.m., but an hour and 45 minutes into the dive, it loses contact.

Sunday, June 18, 5:40 p.m. ET: Coast Guard receives report of overdue submersible.

Monday, June 19: Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and C-130 Hercules aircraft, as well as a Canadian P8 aircraft equipped with underwater sonar capability, search for the missing submersible, according to a previous release.

Tuesday, June 20, 7 a.m. ET: Bahamian research vessel Deep Energy arrives.

Tuesday, June 20, 4 p.m. ET: C-130 crew from Air National Guard 106th arrives.

-ABC News' Joshua Hoyos